Set under the oaks in Glenmark Domain, the North Canterbury Wine & Food Festivalis the coolest little wine festival in the country.

And this year was definiltey one to remember!

We so enjoyed sharing our eclectic range of food stalls, diverse selection of North Canterbury wine and quality live music with you all. Thanks so much for stepping out into our tūrangawaewae to bond with the locals and celebrate the bounty of this year's harvest.

Read on to find more about what 2018's festival had in store for our festival attendees...

Stalls from local producers, chefs and restaurants are featured every year to offer delicious, fresh and seasonal food that go wonderfully with the selection of wines.

2018's FOOD PRODUCERS:

The Paella FellaAuthentic Spanish paella served in three varieties, all gluten free, healthy and fit for a king.

________________

Bearlion FoodsA whole range of delicious salads and wholesome food, enlivened with new flavours and exciting old favourites with a healthy spin.

________________

Cakes By AnnaX Grizzly BagelsThe hottest bakers in town are tag teaming it again, with a variety of cakes showcasing seasonal produce & locally made ingredients, as well as bagel sandwiches hot off the grill & freshly filled donuts.

headline chef | sam Mannering

Auckland-based chef and food writer Sam Mannering returned to where he grew up to cook us all a mighty fine North Canterbury feast, featuring bruschetta topped with everything local. And what's more, he donated 100% of his proceeds to our festival charity partner Māia Health Foundation.

Talk about a good sort...

Amberley Farmers Market Pop-Up

In 2018, we were lucky enough to be graced by the presence of the Amberley Farmers Market crew, allowing you all to take a bit of North Canterbury home with you.

North Canterbury is just 40 minutes north of Christchurch and is fast establishing itself as one of the premium wine producing regions of New Zealand, particularly in Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling. According to Bob Campbell, the region is ”one of the unsung heroes of the wine industry”.

The region has 2 main sub-regions, Waipara Valley & Waikari. There are also a few vineyards 20 minutes north of the Waipara Valley close to Cheviot.

NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVVIES SUPPLIED by THESE GOOD SORTS in 2018...

All sober drivers will receive a complimentary Karma Cola beverage for taking one for the team.

The Kvas Company

Bring a traditional Slavic drink to the festival. Brewed by a lactic fermentation process using a starter made from rye bread! A beautiful and tasty probiotic beverage.

Waipara School

The Waipara School will be keeping you hydrated with bottled water and sodas at this year's festival, with all proceeds going back to Waipara School.

Coffee Supreme

Supreme filter station hydrating you with chilled coffee made from Ethiopian sede beans with naughty sweetened milk.

Allpress Coffee

The Allpress coffee cart is parking up under the oaks to serve up their specialist coffee - including a refreshing cold brew.

Talk Tent

PRESENTED BY...

For the last two years, Lincoln University have brought fascinating conversations to the festival, hosting discussions by duos made up of some of the best wine producers of the region, matched with chefs and food producers.

Pockets of music featured in every nook of Glenmark Domain's picturesque setting. The 2018 festival line up included a Musicians' Corner with jazz, folk, and singer/songwriter vibes including Chris William, Bryony, The Goldonies, The Swan Sisters and more.

We also chucked in a couple of more bangers on the other end of the park with the laid back 'Beats and Tunes' area featuring Simon Kong and other featured DJs spinning Sunday tunes all day long. Oh yeah!

HEADLINE ACT 2018

THE EASTERN

Thrillingly the rolling, rambling, spirit raising atmospheres they project in theirlive shows have endeared them to the hearts of many. It’s obvious they careabout the audience as much as the songs.

ON THE STAGE...

Chris William

Chris William wears his heart on his sleeve. He blends his love of jazz, soul and electronica into a swirl of synthesisers, thumping drum machines and stirring vocal harmonies. His music is both ripe with emotion and tension – warped piano sounds collide with swampy guitar noise. He has self-released two lauded singles, and is currently recording an EP to be released mid 2017.

Bryony Matthews

Picking up a guitar at 14, Bryony has been writing and performing, shedding fears, gaining confidence and honing her skills, plus acquiring a collection of talented musicians to back her. Matthews writes unique, considered, lyrics-focused folk-pop offerings, with her band lending an upbeat ambiance to the songs.

Swan Sisters

The Swan Sisters are Amiria Grenell and Amy Grace. They sing heart filled songs throughout Aotearoa, including the 2017 WOMAD music festival. Amiria and Amy have been writing music together for many years. Their sound is a delicate blend of styles: alt. folk with beautiful harmonies, a touch of country & a dash of dreamy pop. These songbirds encapsulte their friendship and joy of storytelling with an uplifting, acoustic set.

On the decks...

The Goldonies

The Goldonies have been winning over audiences with their mix of rock ‘n’ roll classics performed with high energy and humour in the skiffle band setting. A typical set list will usually find the boys tipping their hats to the three B’s of rock ‘n’ roll – Buddy, Berry and Beatles, as well as numerous other classics from the 1950’s and 60’s.

The kids are always welcomed with open arms - and this year we had loads to keep them chipper. The picnic areas and music were enjoyed by all of the family, as well as bouncy castles, petting zoo, face painting, ice-creams, hilarious entertainment and everything else that makes being a kid the best.

Our Charity Partner

Māia health FOUNDATION

Our hearts were feeling pretty toasty after hearing just how much of a difference we made at the festival this year towards Māia Health Foundation's mission to enhance Christchurch Hospital's helipad, helping to save lives 13 minutes faster.

The total donations received from the stall of our generous celeb chef, Sam Mannering, festival attendees' online donations while buying tickets, loose change popped into the box at the end of the day AND a surprise donation from Cakes by Anna (all of her stall's proceeds from the day), added up to a whopping $5,000!

Thank you so much for doing your bit for this important cause.

If you want to know more about what this amazing charity – that is so close to the hearts of those living in our region – is up to, head over to Māia's website.

Here's a sneak peak of the new helipad you'll be helping to make a reality for our city...

Supporters

A huge thank you to these generous businesses who make theNorth Canterbury Wine & Food Festival possible...